So, here I am sitting at the airport waiting for the boarding to start for my flight home. What better time to blog my trip. 
Monday/Tuesday
I left the freezing cold of North Idaho and boarded a lovely Southwest plane to fly to Portland. It’s Southwest, I’ve been trying to get used to them, it was, well, it was Southwest. From Portland I boarded American Airlines to head South and East to sunny, warm Florida. (No, I wasn’t a little excited to anything LOL.)
Now comes the exciting part of my trip out. I got to fly FIRST CLASS! I had accumulated enough frequent flyer miles that I was able to get a FREE first class ticket. It was an AMAZING flight! A full, HOT breakfast in the morning, a full HOT dinner (with RIBS!) and wine. Yummy. First class is definitely the way to travel….I think I’ve spoiled myself a little too much.
Wednesday
My friend Gena (who I was visiting) and I drove up to visit another friend, Lianne. We had a blast, I got to meet Allen, Lianne’s son and he’s an absolute cutie. We spent the morning hanging around the house and left in the afternoon. After getting to Lianne’s we left to go to the beach (because I wanted to put my feet in the ocean. Well, we had a little problem on our way to the beach….we were following Lianne and she got into a tiny accident. She was really frustrated but we just hung around until that was cleared up then headed off to eat dinner. Finally, we got to the ocean. It was amazing. I realized it as the first time I’d put my feet in the Atlantic. That was a treat. I got some awesome shells to give the girls in my youth group and walked along the beach a little. Most important, for me, was I got to hear the waves crash.
The waves at the beach are what I miss the most about not going to the ocean any more. The great expanse of seeing how massive the ocean is and hearing the power behind the waves and knowing there’s a whole world down there that I can’t see is astounding to me. I think that of all places on earth standing on the shoreline looking at the ocean is the place I feel closest to God. It makes me feel powerful yet powerless. Great yet so small. I love standing there and seeing before me the wonderous works of His hands. So, the one thing I really wanted to do was accomplished. Not to mention I got to do it at night which just happens to be (in my opinion) the best time to stand at the waters edge.
Thursday
Gena and I spent some time around the house then left to go south for the Women of Faith conference (the actual reason I came out — although definitely not the best part :)) We arrived at our hotel, checked in then drove out to the convention center for the first night of the conference. We took a wrong turn and were a couple minutes late to the conference but we ended up not missing anything but the crowds.
The first night we got to do some Praise & Worship and got the hear Patsy Clairmont speak and a mini Amy Grant concert. Patsy Clairmont is, I think, my favorite speaker from the WofF speaker team. This was the short night so we were only there for about 2 1/2 hours. We stopped for dinner on the way back to the hotel and, unfortunately, chose a restaurant that didn’t have the best food. It was a good thing I wasn’t too hungry (although, I guess if I had been starving I would have eaten it despite the taste).
I think the only thing bad I can say about the entire weekend is that Gena and I both love to talk. And, two big talkers together makes for late, LATE nights and not much sleep. LOL But, it was fun.
Friday
Gena’s pregnant and Friday morning she had her first bout with morning sickness. 
That put us a little late in leaving so we decided to skip breakfast because Tammy Trent was singing that morning and I really happen to like her. It just so happens that Tammy is Gena’s mom’s best friend’s daughter so Gena (I think LOL) enjoys listening to her sing also. So we left to get to the center on time and Genas car wouldn’t start. So, unfortunately, it was a good 2 hours later that we finally got to the convention center. Unfortunately, quite some time after Tammy did her first and only time on stage. We were able to still see the Avalon concert and listen to Max Lucado and Luci Swindoll speak so the day was great. Max Lucado is an awesome speaker. I’ve heard of him a lot but realized I’d never heard him speak. I’m really glad I was able to.
When the conference was over for the day we decided to go to the mall for dinner. Only the mall was HOT and HUMID and stunk something horrible. We ended up leaving and just going back to the hotel. Finally, at about 8 we decided to get something to eat and ordered something for delivery. It was pretty yummy…we treated ourselves to a “healthy” appetizer assortment.
We then chatted for a bit…OK, more than a bit we chatted until 2AM. Which wouldn’t be so bad but we had to get up at 7AM (yes, I woke up at 7AM and to astound you even more please remember that it was 7AM Eastern time which means I woke up at 4AM Pacific time — some sympathy sounds would be good here). So we woke up a little after 7AM but still with enough time to get to the conference on time.
Saturday
The first speaker for the conference was Robin McGraw (as in Dr. Phil’s wife). Now, you have to understand, I like Dr. Phil but I’m not a huge fan. Although you wouldn’t know it from how excited I was to see his wife speak. LOL What I was really looking forward to was seeing Dr. Phil sit in the audience supporting his wife like she does for him. So, when she got up and he wasn’t in the audience I was FURIOUS. Her talk was great, I really enjoyed listening to her. But, he redeemed himself when he surprised HER by coming out at the end to walk her off the stage. He’d been backstage the whole time supporting her, she just didn’t know it. In hindsight I think that was better because there was a huge roar from the crowd when he came out and I think him being out the whole time would have distracted people from listening to her.
We also heard Marilyn Meberg speak, saw the third sketch by Nicole Johnson and got to listen to Anita Renfrow. Anita Renfrow is HILARIOUS. If you have a chance to hear her sometime, go. You’ll laugh so hard. But, she also has a great message. The whole event closed with a concert by Steven Curtis Chapman. It was a great concert! I haven’t listened to him in a while except what comes on the radio…it was nice to hear some of his new stuff…think it’s another CD I need to buy. LOL
From there we headed back to Gena’s with a stop at her mom’s and at the mall for dinner and some shopping. Quiet night back at her house.
Sunday
We slept in (trying to make up from too much talking the prior two nights < We left and went to grab a bit to eat then hit the shoreline again. It was pretty windy with a bit of a chill so we ended up leaving the beach before too long (but not before I picked up more shells) and headed to the airport. We did drive some through some nice parts of town to see some of the houses.
So, my trip was awesome. I can’t wait to come back again to defrost from the cold Idaho winters. We’ve already planned a trip to the Keys next time….so I think I’ll spend next February defrosting on the beach in the Florida Keys.
Till later…
I am so glad God led me to this awesome place to worship Him. The path to get there was different but He got me there quickly and amazing things are happening in my life because of it. I haven’t felt this blessed to be The Kings Princess in such a long time.
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I am a self-employed virtual bookkeeper. I work from my own office assisting companies around the nation with their bookkeeping needs. I love what I do and love the businesses I assist. I live in the beautiful Idaho Panhandle. I love to share tales of my life in the north.
